Aja Sims Named SEC Freshman of the WeekThe Orlando, Fla., native won the balance beam at Auburn with a career-best 9.925 to help close out the Tigers last Friday

Feb. 18, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Alabama gymnast Aja Sims was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week the league office announced Tuesday.

Sims earned the award after leading the Crimson Tide on the balance beam to close out the win over No. 10 Auburn last Friday night in Auburn Arena. She scored a career-best 9.925 on the balance beam, pacing Alabama to a season-best 49.325 team score. She also scored a career-best 9.875 to lead off the Tide's floor exercise rotation, setting the tone for a 49.500, the team's second highest total of the season.

Both performances provided a second-half spark on the way to a 197.5-197.1 win for the Tide. It also marked the third time in the first six weeks of the season that an Alabama gymnast has been named the SEC's Freshman of the Week. Sims' classmate Katie Bailey won the award on Jan. 14 and Feb. 4. Kim Jacob earned SEC Gymnast of the Week honors on Jan. 14 and Specialist of the Week honors on Feb. 11 to give Alabama five total SEC honors to this point in the season.

The Crimson Tide remains on the road this week, facing off against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 7 Michigan and West Virginia at the Perfect 10 Challenge in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Feb. 21. It will be Alabama's last road meet of the regular season.

Alabama then returns home on Feb. 28 against No. 2 Florida for the first of three home meets in a row. Tickets for the Tide's home meets and the SEC and NCAA Championships are on sale through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, and online at RollTide.com.

Fans can keep up with the Tide via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube by following BamaGymnastics.